Tucked away amid the Creole cottages of residential Bywater, Vaughan's has long drawn crowds from across the city for its famous Thursday-night gigs by trumpeter Kermit Ruffins (and now, fans of "Treme" put it on their itineraries for its multiple appearances on the show.) Thursdays are brassy and raucous, and ever-more-packed, but on the average night it's still a homey joint where neighbors sip beers on tree-stump stools outside on Dauphine Street.

Tip: Kermit doesn't always play that famous Thursday gig, but the music is guaranteed to be foot-stomping and brassy. Corey Henry and Shamarr Allen have both covered it for him.